If you’ve lived in our area for even just a year, then you know just how chilly it gets, and just how important it is to have a powerful and efficient home heating system. There are a few ways to ensure that your heater does, in fact, work as efficiently, and therefore as affordably, as possible. Wondering how?
Well, it starts with maintenance. Routine heating maintenance allows our technicians to thoroughly inspect, clean, and adjust the components that need it. This not only helps the heater work as efficiently as possible but also as powerfully as possible, for as long as possible. Maintenance helps you avoid up to 85% of the repair needs that an HVAC system might otherwise need.
Maintenance is definitely not the only way to boost heating efficiency, though! Read on as we uncover some of our top heating efficiency tips.
Use a Programmable Thermostat
This is pretty much the simplest way to cut down on your energy bills. Today’s programmable thermostats allow you to make different schedules for nighttime and daytime, for weekends and weekdays, etc.
You can even take this a step further by getting a smart thermostat that will allow you to change the temperature remotely, no matter where you are. Also, these smart thermostats “learn” from your heating and cooling preferences to adjust themselves accordingly.
Lower the Temperature
One great way to cut back on energy costs is by making a shift in how your set your thermostat. The Department of Energy suggests that you set the thermostat to about 68°F if you want to save. You can lower this temperature even more when you’re away from home, or sleeping, to save on your bills.
The trick there is to not shut off the heating system completely when you aren’t home. Why? Because this allows the ductwork and your home to cool back down, which means that your heater will have to run nonstop for hours to get the household backup to the right temperature, therefore using more energy.
Take Advantage of Other Heat Sources
We would never encourage our customers to use cooking appliances as their main source of heat–this can be quite dangerous. However, if you’ve been thinking about cooking a hearty meal, there’s no better day to do it than one of our chilliest winter days! Use your oven and your stove, and if you don’t have any pets or small children in the house, leave the oven door open as it cools off when you’re done cooking. This will help distribute warm air into the home, raising the temperature and leaving you to rely less on your heater.
Change the Air Filter
Did you know that the air filter that comes standard with your HVAC systems isn’t there to protect your indoor air quality, but rather is in place to protect the system itself? The air filter is tasked with keeping debris out of the system so that it will perform to the best of its ability. But a blocked air filter means restricted airflow, which won’t help efficiency. Change this out every 1-3 months for optimal performance!
For professional services for your heating in Joliet, IL, look no further than Comfort First Heating and Cooling, Inc. Contact us today!